About Hebel & Co

Co & Hebel

Hebel & Co is family-owned and -operated. As such, each halva we make begins with a sophisticated scientific process known as kvetching and kvelling. At the end of that process a beautiful halva is born, one that will make your family very proud. Or is it our family? Your family? It's not important. What's important is that you sit back, enjoy yourself, and read a little bit about how this operation got its wings.

A little bit of history...

(approximately 3000 years)

Sometime in the twentieth century, two immigrants from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea arrive in the United States, bringing with them their love of halva. And this would be a very short history if they had brought along a recipe. They did not. So instead this story takes many turns, twisting and winding, until decades later, when one of their offspring, Scott, introduces Katie to halva. Katie exclaims, "We should make it!" And what this really meant was: Scott, you should try and make it.

Sooo... how'd it go?

People, we're talking 3000 years of history here. A little trial and error was to be expected. Scott buried his head in chemistry books, science journals, obscure confectionery resources, history books, old texts, revisiting what seemed like the origin of time itself. He built complex contraptions, burned himself, tried different techniques and ingredients, then built even more dangerous contraptions, which led to more severe burning. Smoke alarms went off. Sketches, drawings, more contraptions. They tasted, and tasted, and tasted.

In Katie's Words

"At first it was a labor of love. Scott became obsessed with making halva because he was like, 'I want one with different ingredients, or this flavor, and why can't it be like this or that.' He descended deep into confectionery madness. The kitchen was a disaster... there was tahini everywhere, sugar stuck to the walls; I would come home and find him with beakers and contraptions and it was a sight to behold. It was like I was living with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. To be frank, at first I thought he was nuts. But that's what it takes...

"Then one day he said, 'Try this.' It was sort of that metaphorical turning point. I remember looking at him and saying, '(Bleep), that is good!' And as is common in food start-ups, somebody makes something delicious, gives it to friends and family, and the next thing you know everybody is asking you to make it. Then all of the sudden you have halva business.

Alas...

Oceans of tahini and finding that oh-so-right combination of nuttiness, sweetness, and texture. Adhering to the principles of tradition, celebrating the incredibly storied history of halva, Hebel & Co halva sings of its origins, but is driven by our modern desire for high quality ingredients.

And now...

Hebel & Co’s halva is handmade in Los Angeles, with the finest available ingredients.

Our favorite ways to eat halva include, but are not limited to, putting it on everything.

But seriously...

Don’t let that stop you from putting it on/in ice cream, cookies, cakes, donuts, muffins, croissants, strudels, and the world is your halva-oyster (just saying—it can be done). You are only limited by your imagination.